List of breakdance moves

ambox
type = style
text = This may require cleanup to meet Wikipedia's quality standards.
Please help [fullurl:FULLPAGENAME|action=edit improve this list] . It may be poorly defined, or . #if:{1| }|{category|} {category|}

Breakdance incorporates many types of moves that can vary as widely as a breaker's imagination and athleticism will allow. The inventory of breakdance moves is extensive, and there are competitions throughout the world, with a growing number of dancers becoming sponsored entities.

Top Rock

The Top Rock is a combination of steps done while standing up. This is the entry dance that Bboys and Bgirls use to start their set. These steps are done before you do a power set or before you go down to the floor. This is the breaker's chance to show how well he or she can rock the beat and/or make gestures to intimidate their opponent. The object is to make a connection with the song either by gesturing on a horn or rhythm section while your feet usually step on the "snare" of the drum/beat section.(Note: Uprock was a jazz/rock dance which influence top rock, uprock is not toprock)

*"'Basic Top Rock
*"'Indian Step
*"'Uprock
**"'Bronx Rock
**"'Brooklyn Rock
*"'Power Step/Power Circle
*"'Boyoing

Drops

*Coin Drop - drops down on one arm and goes into a windmill.
*Knee Drop(aka Colt-45) - a downrock where puts one foot behind the kneepit of the other and drops to the floor and lands on that foot in order to create an illusion of landing on one's knee
*Sweep Drop -one leg sweeps in front of the other,giving impression of tripping yourself
*Thread Drop -a leg thread is done but as soon as strong foot hits ground, it is bent.

Downrock/Footwork

*6-step: The foundational footwork sequence. Although many variations exist that either add or subtract steps in the sequence, the 6-step is the most basic form of downrock.
*Helicopter: One leg rotates in circles below the body and just above the floor. The leg remains straight throughout. From the third step of the 6-step, as the right leg swings around wide for step 4, the breaker leans over onto the right hand, hops slightly with the left foot, and swings the right leg under the left leg. From there, the weight returns to the left leg as the right leg continues swinging around.
*"'2 step
*"'3 step
*"'4 step
*"'5 step
*"'7 step
*"'8 step
*"'12 step
*"'CC's
*"'Bicycle pumps
*"'Zulu Spins
*"'Spindle
*"'Back CC's
*"'Kick outs
*"'Shuffles
*"'Scramble Example [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N6_7yeT_3cU]

Floor Rocks

Floor Rocks are "rocking" or style moves performed while much of your body (hips and/or shoulders) are touching the floor. Although some moves may involve flowing or spinning like movements, they are not power moves. Floor Rocks are either used as transition moves (into a power move, freeze, etc.) or in between footwork.

*Body Rock (aka Back Rock): A move in which you lay flat on your back and only torque you hip and legs, alternating left and right. This move is similar to the CC' in footwork, only being done with your shoulders and upper-back touching the ground. For example, your right foot will "tap" or "kick" over to your left while your left knee remains bent, then your left foot will "tap" or "kick" over to your right while your right knee remains bent.
*Scissors: A move started while laying straight on your side, then bending your body in to touch your toes (simulating a scissor motion). Once you unbend and become straight again, you turn to your opposite side and repeat.
*Belly Swim: While laying on your back, you splay out your arms to turn onto your belly then sweep your arms out in front of you to return to your back all while using a continuous "swimming" motion.
*Body Glide: This move is similar to the belly swim but looks like the "superman" in power-moves because your legs and arms remain splayed as you turn over. Unlike only using your arms to "swim" you over (as done in a Belly Swim), a body glide requires you to swing your legs to "glide" your momentum for turning.
*Side Slide: Performed on your side like a scissor, you kick a leg forward or backward spinning you on your hip axis. This move is like a side spin in power but more stylish with shorter rotation. Sometimes the forehead or hip is touched or, the arms are folded while rotating. Also, the dancer may scrunch in and freeze at the end.
*Homer Simpson: Laying on your side, you "run" while your hips and shoulders touch the ground rotating you on your axis in a circular motion

Freezes

Basic Terminology
*Platform: The part(s) of the body that touch the ground, holding the rest of the Body in position. In other words, the supports of your freeze. Examples of platforms are: Hand, Elbow, Head, shoulder, back, belly, side, sometimes knee (see difference between Freeze and Pose). A freeze could have multiple platforms: The platform of a Tri-pod Headstand would be 2 hands and a head. The platform of a Baby Freeze is also 2 hands and a head, but the body is horizontal rather than vertical as in a Headstand.
*Stab (breakdance move): The act of stabbing the elbow up into the abs, hip, side, or back. Your hands are on the floor holding your body up horizontally off the ground. Your entire body is balanced on that elbow making your fore-arm the fulcrum and is your primary support. Stabs are not required for all freezes; however, it is basic and a foundational requirement to advance to a greater level of moves and freezes. note: Stabs are required for: hand-glide, going into Windmill from hands, any Turtle variation (Pogos, Jackhammers), and Crab-Walks.
*Suicide: A group of finishing moves that share some similarities to the freeze but are quite distinct, involve jumping into the air and landing on back,head,shoulder etc. to appear out of control. Generally the more painful the suicide appears the more impressive the suicide is
*Bridge: You are laying down on your back, then with your hands (up by your head) and your feet (by your bottom) on the ground, you push your hips up until you are arched like a bridge facing upwards. From a handstand you could fall backways into a bridge.Ground
*Baby Freeze: A basic freeze in which one hand is stabbed and the head and opposite hand are used for balance in a tripod position. While both legs are held in the air commonly with the opposite leg's knee of the balancing arm is placed on the balancing arm.
*Airbaby (Underground): A type of freeze with one knee resting on the corresponding elbow and both legs in the air. Note: the knee that is resting on the elbow should be bent.
**1-handed Airbaby: An airbaby with only the hand of the arm supporting the knee on the ground.
*Reverse Airbaby: An Airbaby with all positions inverted.
*Airchair: A type of freeze in which the breaker stabs their elbow into their back and balances on it while keeping their legs in the air.
* Elbow Airchair: A type of freeze in which the breaker holds their body up at the waist with either one or two hands and balances on only their elbows while their feet and head is in the air.
*Side Chair: A freeze in which the breaker stabs one elbow into their side and lifts his legs and head off the ground.
*Chair Freeze: A type of freeze where the breaker balances with their elbow stabbed into their side and their head on the ground. They will then place one foot on the ground and cross the other leg over it.
*Elbow Chair: A type of freeze where the breaker balances with their hand holding onto their side while their head and supporting elbow touch the ground. They will then place one foot on the ground and cross the other leg over it.
*Handglide Freeze aka Table-Top: A type of freeze where the breaker balances on their stabbed arm and uses their free arm for support / A 1 handed Turtle.
*Hong 10 Freeze: A freeze created by bboy Hong 10.
*Planche: A position from gymnastics which involves both hands being on the ground, straight arms, and the rest of your body is held off the ground completely horizontally.
*Elbow Freeze: Breaker using one of his or her arm and elbow support the position.
*Dead Freeze: Any freeze done laying flat on your back or stomach with out your legs or arms holding you up. Usually done after a power move or suicide. Your hands and legs can be in any formation but the typical Dead Freeze has the body flat and straight with the hands across the chest like a corpse in a coffin.
*Air Anchor: A freeze where the ball of your foot supports the weight of your body. Your hand is latched onto your ankle and elbow is stabbed into your back.(This move is very contortionist like)
*Elbow Nike: A Nike freeze only instead of being in a handstand, you are supported by your elbow planted on the ground and your other arm supports by helping to balance.

Air
*G-Kick: A kick with the legs and arm forming a G shape by reaching behind your back and grabbing the leg on the side of your arm on the ground.
*Headstand: A freeze while standing on the head, with or without hands on the floor for support.
*Head Hollow/Scorpio/Master Sausage A headstand where the body is leaned over in an extreme back arch with the heels almost touching the floor.
*Hollowback: A freeze that involves leaning backwards from a handstand position in an extreme back arch. In a true hollowback, the legs are together. Imagine "The Bridge" Position (see above), however feet don't touch the ground.
**Scorpion: A variant of Hollowback where one leg reaches back farther than the other resembling the tail of a scorpion.
**Invert: A variant of the hollowback that involves bending the legs forward instead of backwards. An inverted hollowback.
*K-Kick: A kick with the legs and arm in a K shape.
*L-Kick/Aú Batido: A kick with the legs in an L shape, also seen in Capoeira.
**Nike: A kick that resembles the Nike sign.
*Pike: A kick with both legs in the air and the free hand holding on to the feet.
*Flag: A difficult freeze in which a one-hand handstand is maintained with both legs together leaning to one side...body resembles a flag

Power Moves

A Power Move is anytype of move in Bboying which requires spinning and/or rotating in a way that can be done so in multiple rounds. All Power Moves (or series of a type of Power Move) can be connected in combos to form a "Power Combo". Breakers that use mostly Power combos in there sets are commonly known as "Power Heads". Example: Flare-Air Flare-Elbow Air Flare-Air Flare-1990...etcOr-Air Flare 1.5-Babymill-Windmill-Swipe-Windmill-Halo-Headspin...etcThe possible number of combinations are endless and only limited by stamina, strength and imagination. In 2002 The Guinness Book of World Records began tracking number of power move rotations for their world record standings. At that time Canadian Gregory Burbidge broke records for Air Flare, Headspins, and Elbow Airflares. American Lauren Jacob held the record for Chair Flares. American Laura Derrick held the record for Tappingmills. Nicole Jones (nationality unknown) held the record for Munch Airflares. In 2004 Guinness removed these titles from their records. At the time Gregory Burbidge was the only one who still held records from the original group.

*Air Flare An advance powermove starting from a 1990 or windmill or halo or headspin position. The bboy goes into a handstand with his body diagnal to the ground and legs spread out into a V-shape. The legs are swung, like windmills/halos, in a circular motion. Using the momentum, the bboy switches from arm to arm as the body rotates in the air. The most difficult part of this move is the switching of the arms (while in the air)while the back of the bboy is facing the ground(the circular leg swing is most important in a hand transfer). It is recommended that this move is tried on mats with a supervisor.
*Air Track The Air Track is more extreme still, and they are considered a separate move. An Air Track is basically a windmill in midair. You use only your hands and you hop from hand to hand in somewhat of a circular motion. There is dispute about whether this move is different from the Air Flare. Some say that Air Tracks have the body traveling only on an x axis, while with an Air Flare the body travels on an x and y axis. Others contend that the moves are one and the same, and that the name difference is merely based on the evolutionary history of the moves.
**Piked Airflare: Airflare with the legs straight together, instead of V-shape.
**Munch Airflare: Airflare with the legs tucking in and kicking out, creating a "munch" motion.
**One Legged Airflre: Airflare with one the legs sticking out while the other leg is bent in, looking like an L-shape. Sometimes it is done with the bent leg tucked into the shirt of the bboy.
**One Hand Airflare: Airflare using one arm.
**Elbow Airflare: Airflare with elbows/forearm.
**One Arm Elbow Airflare: Airflare using one arm but on the elbow.
*Flare: A widely recognized power move that involves swinging the legs around in a circular motion while balancing on the hands.
**King Flares/Hopping Flare: A flare that is done while hopping from hand to hand.
**Virgin Flare/Double Leg Circles: A flare that is done with closed legs.
**Twin-legged Flare: A Flare with the legs straight out together.
**Crossed-legged Flare: Much like twin-legged flare, but the legs are crossed.
**Chair Flare:A Flare starting and ending with an airchair position, much like king flares but with bent hands.
**Thread Flare: A flare that is done with by threading the legs with the free arm.
*Swipe: A power move where the breakdancer starts with his hands and feet on the ground and rotates his upper body to build the momentum to rotate his lower body.
*Windmill/Mill: a debatable move (considered basic move or power move) in which the breaker can use the momentium from a previous move or start from stabbing your elbow in your stomach and feet supported on the ground, where you kick the opposite leg from the direction you are spinning to gain the momentium to rotate your self around onto your back and back onto your front. A variation of baby freeze and backspin and sometimes called a 'Continuous Backspin' by the Old Skool.
**Superman/Bellymills: A variant of the windmill where the arms are streched out, like Superman, while the torso rotates on the chest/stomach.
**Windmill Critical: A variant where in freeze position during a windmill like Airflare 1.5 you push yourself off the ground and spin in the air back into a windmill
**Airplane/Highrisers/Highrises: A windmill but your arms high as possible and spread
**Babymills/Munchmills: Windmills performed with tucked legs.
**Germanmills/Tappingmills:Windmills performed with one leg tucked on top of the other leg, the lower leg taps the ground while the upper torso rolls over similar to munchmills/babymills. the tap leg should be the opposite of the direction the windmill is rotating, i.e. if rotating CW, the right leg taps, if rotating CCW, the left leg taps.
**Tombstone mills/Frankensteins: Windmills performed with piked legs.
**Mummies: You do a windmill, but cross your arms over your chest.
**Nutcracker: A windmill with your hands on your groin area.
**Eggbeater: A windmill with hands to your thighs.
**Barrel: A windmill where your arms make a circle as if you are hugging a barrel.
**Confusions: A windmill with your hands on your ears or the side of your head.
**Lotus mills: Windmills done with the legs crossed over one another,in the lotus yoga position.
*Back Spin: One of the first spinning and famous, power moves ever made. A move which has the breaker balled up and spinning on his or her back.
*Side Spin: Some times done after a windmill, the side spin is balled up like the back spin except the breaker is rotating on his or her side.
*Halos: Similar to windmills, the only difference is the back roll on the ground but supported by arms while rotating, thus causing this move to also spin on the side of head, like a halo. Sometimes called a 'Neck Move' by Old Skoolers.
**One hand halo: Halos done on one hand
*Headspins: A continuous spin done while balancing only on the head, the legs can vary indefinitely.
*HeadSplide: A combination of a headspin and a headslide where the dancer rotates around using a headspin/halo technique whilst sliding forward upon his forehead. Usually achieving between .5 and 1.5 rotations and catching it in another head move.
*1990/90: A spinning one-handed handstand.
*2000/00s/Thousands: A 1990 with the spare hand on the wrist of your supporting hand.
*Elbow Spin: A spin on the forearm.
*Butt Spin: A spin on the butt.

Floats

Stabbed
*Hand Glide: A float that involves spinning around in a circular motion, using one hand to push and propel you while the other hand is stabbed in the gut supporting your weight.
**Side Glide: A float that involves spinning around in a circular motion, using one hand stabbed in your side (like an Air Chair)to support your weight. Like the Hand Glide but on your side.
*Cricket: A float that involves hopping around in a circular motion while in the handglide position.
**Jackhammer/Hydro: Crickets on one hand.
*Turtle: A float that involves stabbing both hands and walking in a circular motion.
**Pumping Turtle/Darkhammer: A float where you hop from stabbed hand to stabbed hand.
**Wacky Turtles/Scratching Turtles: A float that involves stabbing one hand at a time while the other reaches out in front of you.

Air
*UFO/Air Turtle: An un-stabbed spinning float.
*Boomarangs: An un-stabbed spinning float. Done with your legs spread open and your hands down in front of you supporting you and propelling you in a circle.
*Gorillas: A float that involes spinning around in a circular motion, using your body position in a tucked planche and you spin with your hands. it's a bit similar to the U.F.O. but instead of your legs going around, your whole body goes around.

Hand hops/Elbow hops/Other hops

Commonly known as Hand Hops or Rabbits, a "Hand Hop" is done in a two-handed or one-handed handstand. Legs will kick causing the hand or hands on the floor to hop. This is also done on elbows and other body parts using the same motion of kicking to "hop" you off the ground.

Two-handed

*Basic 2 Handed Hand Hops/Rabbits: Hopping on two hands, pumping your legs up together.
*2 Handed Scissors: Hopping while kicking your legs back and forth.
*Switch Hops: Hopping while switching from right to left hands.
*Invert Hops: Hopping while in an invert.
*2 Handed Bicycle Hops: Rapidly kicking(or Bicycling) your legs multiple times in between hops.
*2 Handed Lotus Handhops: Hopping on two hands while legs are in the Lotus position.

One-handed

*Basic Hand Hops/One Handed Rabbits: Hopping on one hand, pumping your legs up together.
*Scissor Hops: Hopping while kicking your legs back and forth.
*Threading Handhops: Threading while hopping.
*Lotus Handhops/Yoga Hops: Hopping while Legs are in the Lotus position.
*Handhop Pikes/Pike Hops: Hand Hopping while piked.
*Split Hops/Open Hops: Hopping while spreading open and closing your legs.
*Bicycle Hops: Rapidly kicking(or Bicycling) your legs multiple times in between hops.
*Super Hops: Hopping and bending your elbow up while in the air to hop as high as possible.
*Pretzel Hops: Hopping with one leg behind your head.
*Clap Hops: Hopping and clapping your hand while in mid air.

-Elbow Hops-
*Basic Elbow Hops: Hopping on one elbow, pumping your legs up together.
*Elbow Switch Hops: Hopping while switching from right to left Elbows.
*Elbow Scissor Hops: Hopping while kicking your legs.
*Note: Most One handed hand hops can be done on the elbow.

-Other Hops-
*Chair Hops: The Bboy/Bgirl is in an air chair freeze position and kicks up continuously, thus hopping on one hand.
*Head Hops: Hopping on your head.
*Shoulder Hops: the Bboy/Bgirl is in a shoulder freeze position and kicks up, thus hopping on the shoulder.

Blowups/Rollbacks

*Rollback Handstand: A bboy starts off on his back or sitting down and rolls back to a handstand. This move is common to start a 1990 or a 2000.
*Rollback Pike/Nike: Similar to a rollback handstand but usually done with one arm into a pike or a nike.
*Rollback Airchair: A bboy starts off on his back or sitting down and rolls back to an airchair.
*Elbow Rollback: A bboy starts off on his back or sitting down and rolls back on to his forearm freezing him in the air.

Drops

*Drop Airchair: Usually starting from a handstand move and dropping into an airchair.
*Drop Elbow/Forearm: Usually starting from a handstand move and dropping onto the elbow or forearm.
*Head Drop: Dropping onto the head from another move.
*Shoulder Drop: Dropping onto the shoulder from another move.

Other Moves

*Back 2 Back:* The Back 2 Back involves 2 people X & Y. X & Y stand facing each other (over 5 feet apart). X bends over bending his knees slightly and can rest his elbows on his knees (head must be down). Y runs at X and puts his hands on his shoulders and flips himself onto X's back and does a tumble while on his back anwith his legs in a 4 shape. He hops and lands with the leg that was bent behind on the ground and the other leg pointing straight out. The breaker points one hand in the air and bounces on and off each foot while turning in a circle.
*Boomerang Flip- Do a quarter backflip, then turn it into a butterfly kick.
*Broncos/Donkey Kicks: The breaker starts in a hand stand, kicking their legs and pushing off with their arms at the same time sending their feet on an impossible mission. The goal is to spend as much time in the air before their feet touches the ground. When their feet touches, the breaker bounces immediately off their toes, sending their upper body back towards the ground. When their hands touches, they repeats from step two and get a fly bounce going.
**Frogs: You do the same motion as a Bronco, but you land in the turtle position, then you bounce back up and do the same thing over and over.
*Butterfly kick: A Wushu move sometimes incorporated into breakdancing.
*FlashKick - A backflip with body flat, except legs are spread facing forward.
*The bug: Your hands are rapidly pushing yourself along the ground. Start kneeling then place your head on the ground. Then start pushing along. The faster the hand movements, the better the bug.
*Butterfly 2?: Step hard like you're going to jump really high forward. Then jump up really high in a diagonal direction and become horizontal in the air. Now, while still airborne, (you should be facing the ground) bend your back inward so your stomach is sticking toward the ground. At the same time, extend your arms behind you, close to your knees. Now snap out of it so that your legs are in a "V" shape and your arms are close to your chest to support your fall. Land with your arms in a push-up position.
*Butterfly fly Run toward a hard object like a wall of a building. Then kick hard toward the object then take another step up and then spin around 90 degrees then spin in the air like a butterfly kick but spinning.
*Caterpillar: synonymous with the Worm.
*Fly & Roll: A B boy/B girl jumps forward "flies" forward, hits the ground, and rolls ending up back on their feet. This move can be done between two people.
*Headglide/Icey Ice: With one elbow in your side, hand on the ground, your head slides around your supporting hand like a compass.
*Headspring: A kick up executed from a kneeling position, going to the head and kiping up. Basiclly a handspring using your head.
*Insane Corkscrew: A spin with the direction of rotation constantly changing.
*K-sn
- A move similar to the Frog splash wrestling move.
*Knee Spin: A spin on one or both knees, usually in the kneeling position. Breakers often perform freezes or stylish movements of the upper body while spinning.
*Gainer Flash - A gainer but legs are like in the flashkick.
*Leghop/Thread: Bend your weakest leg in front of your strongest, creating a figure-4 with your legs. Use the opposite hand to grab the toes of that weakest leg. This should form a circle through which you will jump. Jump as high as possible with your strong leg. Quickly scrunch it up to your chest, bring it over and through your leg-hand circle, and shoot it straight again to catch yourself before you fall to the ground. Legitimate leghops leave the leg-hand circle unbroken throughout the jump. It helps to bend over a little rather than stand totally erect. Some b-boys may repeatedly jump back and forth through the gap.
*Rocket: Go into a 6-step and go into a helicopter/coffee grinder and as soon as you jump with your crouched foot in a rotation, you jump as high as you can with your crouched foot straight in the air (you can use your hands if you want) and as you go up, swing your leg back under your foot before you land for another rotation.
*Rolls: The b-boy starts in all four with feet wide apart. Now he takes his right hand and throws it over to his left side so that his hands are with the same width that you would do a handstand in. Now he lifts his right leg off the ground, and kicks up into a handstand, with his legs bent and then jumps off of the hands and back onto the ground in the crab position. The body is twisted like a swipe.
*Skyscraper: The b-boy gets into handstand position. he lifts his left hand off the ground and moves it back. The right hand is planted to the ground. Then, once he gets her left hand moving backwards, his body will turn to the hand. Then he picks up the right hand and moves it more or less next to the left hand and the body will turn still. Then she moves his left hand backwards again, and he is facing the opposite direction.
*Solar Eclipse/Hand Hops: Hopping in a one-handed hand stand while rotating and kicking your legs.
*Lunar Eclipse: Hopping in a one-handed hand stand while rotating and scissoring your legs.
*Threading: Same technique as the leghop however without hopping and is incorporated into some freezes.
*Macaco: From a sitting position, the right hand is swung behind the back, then the left hand. While the left hand is up in the air, do a backflip after it. This move shares its name with the Capoeira move. It translates from the Portuguese for word for 'Monkey'.
*The Worm: A rippling of the body along the ground.
*Emerican crab: From a standing position, jump fairly high then kick your both legs up then with your hands rappidly tuck your hands under your groin then do a back flip. Then fall on your back lightly then flip up to a crab stance then from that keep your crab stance and flip on your head then land back to a crab stance then go back on your head. Repeat.
*Gainer/Gaynor: A backflip executed while running forward.
*Corkscrew: A difficult move in which the breaker jumps into the air, becomes completely horizontal, and completes two sideways rotations before landing back on his feet.
*Loser/Gloria: A frontflip executed while walking or running backwards, the opposite of a Gainer.
*Touchdown Raiz: A back handspring done using only one hand, used to gain momentum for moves such as backflips and Gainers.

uicides

*Suicide The term suicide is most frequently used as a suicide from a babymill/munchmill movement onto the back laying flat on the ground.
*Front/back Headflip: A headspring done without the use of the hands.
*Hard Dive: An aerial dive landing on the shoulder or upper forearm
*Pencil Spin:A headspin done with legs together and hand at the sides.
*Suicide Rubberband: A backwards dive landing in the kip-up position with hands behind head.
*Airtrack 1.5: Done after the completion of an airflare,after one hand is placed down instead of hopping onto other hand momentum is used to complete one or two whole aerial spins, usually landed in a munchmill or windmill to avoid injury.
*Suicide Corkscrew: A Corkscrew or B-twist is done but landed on back or upper shoulders.
*Coin Drop Drops down on one arm and goes into a windmill.
*The Winder: Dropping onto the back from a handstand. The Bboy/Bgirl removes their supporting arms whilst in a handstand and lands prostate on their back. The Winder can also be executed whilst moving forwards or backwards. The more painful The Winder appears the better. Pioneered by UK Breaker Major League Chubb D.